Joint support



D. M. L UTZ JOINT SUPPORT Oct. 22, 1968 Filed Oct. 22, 1965 mgm HTTORNEKS United States Patent O `t,406,400 JOINT SUPPORT Dolores M. Lutz, 3680-A Montana Ave.,

St. Louis, M0. 63116 Filed oct. 22, 196s, ser. No. 501,784 2 Claims. (Cl. 2-24) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A exible wrap-about protective and supporting structure particularly for the knee and elbow joints of the human body including an inner flexible base of `substantial area, a metal force distributing member and a flexible member inV contiguous relation and encased in inner and outer cover pieces disposed against the flexible base, cover pieces enclosing the base and encased members, and means uniting, all of said elements.

The present invention relates generally to protective and supporting devices for joints of the human body, and more particularly to a novel supporting and protective construction for the knee and elbow before and after injury, finding wide use in athletic contests, and the like.

There has long been the need for a practical and eiiective supporting and protective structure for the knee and elbow of a participant in football, basketball, and other strenuous games involving physical contact. Statistics abound directed to injuries in contact sports, particularly in the knee area. The present structure supplies the longfelt need.

In brief, the present novel supporting and protective structure includes a flexible base of two layers of cloth, and the like. An outer member of soft resilient material, a metal mesh member, and the like, and an inner member of soft resilient material are trapped between said two cloth layers. Means for mounting the structure upon the knee or elbow are provided.

Hence, objects of the present invention are to provide a novel supporting and protective structure which is adapted to lend protection to the joint in contact sports, and the like, by distributing the effect of blows and which lends support to the joint at all times, which is simple in construction, yet highly effective for its intended purpose, which is adapted to t a wide range of sizes of joints, which can be readily applied to a joint with manimum instruction in use thereof, which is relatively inexpensive, and which otherwise fullls the objects and advantages sought therefor.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages are apparent from the following description taken with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a supporting and protective structure incorporating the teachings of the present invention spread out in flat relation;

FIGURE 2 is a bottom plan view thereof;

FIGURES 3, 4 and 5 are cross-sectional views taken 0n substantially the lines 3 3, 4 4, and 5 5, respectively, of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged view of the right end portion of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged view of the left end portion of FIGURE 3 with the fastening elements at ninety degrees thereto;

FIGURE 8 is a plan view of the bottom cover for the metal member;

FIGURE 9 is a view of a resilient member for disposition over the metal member;

FIGURE 10 is a view of a metal member;

FIGURE 11 is a view of a top cover for the metal member;

ICC

FIGURE 12 is a view of a resilient member for disposition between the bottom cover for the metal member and the back of the structure;

FIGURE 13 is a view showing the structure supporting a knee in bent position;

FIGURE 14 is a view of a modified metal member, particularly adapted for use as part of a structure for supporting and protecting an elbow; and

FIGURE 15 is a view of a structure incorporating the metal member of FIGURE 14 mounted upon an elbow.

Referring to the drawings more particularly by reference numerals, 20` indicates generally a supporting and protective structure incorporating the principles of the present invention. The structure 20 includes a main outer cover 22 and a main inner cover 24, which may be canvas, strong cloth, and the like, and are connected at top and bottom by stitching 26 extending therethrough slevage 28. Secured between the covers 22 and 24 by stitching 30 is a large resilient member 32 of spinge rubber, or the like. Disposed between the upper surface of the resilient member 32 and the main outer cover 22 is a composite joint protective unit including a bottom cover 34, a force distributing metal member 36, a resilient member 38 of sponge rubber, or the like, and a top cover 40` which are secured together and to the main outer cover 22 by stitching 42. For maximum protection, the metal member can take the shape substantially as shown in FIGURE 10.

Fastening elements 44, best seen in FIGURE 7, are mounted in spaced relation along vertical edges of the main outer cover 22 and main inner cover 24, extending through the main outer cover 22 and through a connecting piece 46, said connecting piece 46 being secured to the edge of the main outer cover 22 by stitching 48. A protective ap 50i is secured to the other edge of the connecting member 46 and to the main outer and inner covers 22 and 24 by stitching 52. The other vertical edges of the main outer covers 22 and 24 are secured by stitching 54 to spaced elastic segments 56. Between the elastic segments 56 is an opening 58 bounded by the elastic segments 56, and arcuate selvage piece 60 connected to the edges of the main outer and inner covers 22 and 24 by stitching 62, and an arcuate selvage segment 64 connected by stitching 66 to a fastener support 68 secured to the other vertical edges of the elastic segments 56 by stitching 70V. The fastener support 68 includes two strips of material 72 and 74, the former being of greater width than the latter, as is clear from FIGURE 4. The strip 72 and a third strip 76 receive fastener members 78, best seen in FIGURE 6, adapted to cooperate with the fastener members 44, these strips being secured together by stitching 80. Stitching 82 secures the strips 72, 74 and 76 t0- gether. In FIGURE 13, lacing 84 is shown in the fastening elements 44 and 78 drawing the structure 20 into position on a knee.

In FIGURE 14 is shown a protective metal member 86 of a configuration found highly effective for use in a supporting and protective structure for application to an elbow. In FIGURE 15 there is shown a structure 88 incorporating the protective metal member 86 applied to a human elbow. The structure 88 is similar to the structure 20 internally. It may be formed as a slip-on, as illustrated, in which case the fastening elements are eliminated.

By reference to FIGURES 13 and 15, it is clear that the protective metal mem-bers 36 and 86 are dosposed in positions for most efficient protection. The opening 58 reduces binding when the limbs are bent as in FIGURES 13 and 15. The elastic segment S6 insures tight application of the supporting and protective structures 20* and 88 to a joint. It is clear that the relationship of the resilient members 32 and 38 in respect to the protective metal member 36 is ysuch asf-to protect by force distribution both the joint of the wearer and the struck individual.

It is apparent that there has been provided a supporting and protective structure which fulfills the objects and advantages sought therefor. Y

It is to be understood that the `foregoing description and the accompanying drawings have been given by Way of illustration and example. It is also to be understood that changes in form of the elements, rearrangement of parts, and substitution of equivalent elements, which will be obvious to those skilled in the art, are contemplated as within the scope of the present invention which is limited only by the claims which follow.

What is claimed is 1. In combination a supporting and protective structure for a knee joint, and the like, comprising a iirst exilble resilient member, means for securing said iirst resilient member about a knee joint, and the like, a continuous force distributing membervdisposed in front of said first resilient member in position for protective disposition over a knee joint, and the like, when said structure is operatively applied, a second resilient member disposed against and forwardly of said force distributing member, separate cover pieces enclosing said second resilient member and said force distributing member forming a separable composite unit, and means maintaining said first resilient member and said composite unit in contiguous relation.

2. The combination of claim 1 in which said last means includes a main outer cover and a main inner cover enclosing said exible resilient member and said composite unit, and means securing said elements together in 0perative relation.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTSv Cole f 252,4

PATRICK D. LAWSON, Prima-ry Examiner.

AMES R. BOLER, Assistant Examiner. 

